Thank you!
As I mentioned in my post this will be my first time actually using the animal companion rules. Most people I see with ACs basically just steer them around as they would their own character, but now that I read the rules I see that the tricks and such sections make RAW a bit more complex than that.
Can I get a few words from you on how to handle this guy? Try to go as closely to RAW as possible, or the more relaxed method? I'm fine with either, but I don't want to put forth the hassle of worrying about tricks if you don't particularly care.
Here is my thinking. As long as you put in the skills necessary to make it a non-issue (like enough ranks in handle animal), then I don't worry too much about it. I don't think I would worry about training times and checks for learning new tricks, though. As long as you CAN make the DC, we can assume you eventually do. But if you want to try it without the "tax", then yes - I do follow the rules.
Also, if you aren't aware, there is a feat called Boon Companion that is perfect for rangers to get a more powerful AC.
I'm going to a convention this weekend that starts tomorrow and runs until sunday night. This afternoon and evening i need to finish off my prep for Solstice Scar multi-table special, so i'm going to be very busy from now until monday.
Please feel free to bot my character and i'll be pack posting around monday lunchtime UK time. See you all then!
Enjoy and have fun!
Kragmyr... Have you been keeping track of how many crits you've been having? For our support character, I think you've put out an obscene amount of damage from those things! Might have to upgrade you to dedicated frontliner at this rate ;)
I haven't...but it is getting ridiculous. Going into this I thought that being Str14 would keep me on the back lines doing a few points here and there. Never thought he would perform like this.
But yeah. He is becoming, and will eventually be, a dedicated front liner. This is because at lvl 7 he will be switching to Ancestor Disciple (refluffed Dragon Disciple)
Lvl 6: Beast Totem (inspired rage will give +2 Str +2 Con +2 Will and +1AC! So it will always be worth taking)
Lvl 7: +1 AC
Lvl 8: Str18 (20 with inspired rage) and 3x primary natural attacks
Lvl 10: Str20 (22 with inspired rage), +1 AC
Lvl 12: Con18 (20 with inspired rage)
Lvl 13: +1 AC
Lvl 14: Int18
So with Lvls 8 and 12 giving +1 Dex...
Str (20+2 rage) Dex (16) Con (18+2 rage) Int (18) Wis (14) Cha (8) +3 Natural Armor (goes up to +4 when raging)
So yeah...started off as a Str14 support character. Will eventually be able to reliably put out decent numbers instead of relying on dumb luck.
And I can tell you right now, that will be a good thing!
I am playing in book 5 and now 6, and it's crazy the numbers that are flying about!
Screw you Captain Tusker! See if Thozar cares about walking the rest of the way! *grump grump grump*
Just a heads up, I will be out of the country from this Saturday to next Saturday. I should have internet access, but there is always the chance that I won't, so bot me as needed!
May i suggest avoiding boat travel while away from home? ;)
Happy travels grumpy dwarf ally! :)
I am going to be swamped the next 4 days. I will try to post if I can, but if you don't see me, you can expect me back in full on Tuesday.
I have a very busy schedule the next couple of weeks and my posting may be spotty.
Ok - thanks for the heads up.
Hey gang, I wanted to let you know that I need to scale back a bit on my games. I have found that I am spending as much as 4 hours a day reading, prepping and posting, and it's just too much. Right now, I am GMing 5 games, and each takes a minimum of 30 minutes for a decent post, and I am sure everyone has seen the resulting lag time because I just can't get the time free.
So, one of these is PFS and should wrap up soon, so I won't be taking on any more of those for a while. (Especially since PFS 1 is now on short time, it just doesn't seem worth the effort).
Three of my games are the giantslayer ones, and while it does help with prep time some, you are often at different places, etc. There was not nearly as much attrition as I expected, but there has been some.
So, I am thinking about disbanding the 3rd game, and would like to offer the 4 remaining half-orc characters spots in the other two. This would bring you guys up to a party of 8, which is rather large.
I haven't told them yet, but they have been strong players, so I suspect they would rather move than be done. They just beat the big bad guy in book 1 and have a bit more to wrap up, so they would miss out on this first part of book 2 you have been working on.
What do you think?
Scaling back makes sense. Burn out is real and dangerous, I thank you for the communication.
Looking at the other two threads, it looks like both we and the classic group were offered the half-orcs. I’m of the opinion that they would do better in the classic group.
It would make them a party of 7 (as opposed to 8 for us). And thematically, a tight knit group of dwarves is rare. Going 1/2 dwarf and 1/2 half orc would mess that up.
Ah, but to clarify - there are 4, so I was planning on adding 2 and 2. However, if the general consensus is to keep it dwarf only, that is worth considering other options.
Take care of yourself GM and do what you can to reduce burn out. If we can do anything to make it easier just let us know.
I'm always open to allowing more players to join the group rather than have them miss out on playing.
I think there could be some in-character meshing issues, especially with our problems on this boat. That could make for some interesting RP while the 'new' guys and us stubborn dwarves get used to each other.
Yes, thank you for the communication! While not desirable, should we put the game on a break for a week? Might be easier sorting this all out without also having to push the game forward.
EDIT: My primary concern would be juggling 8 players. While this is PbP where it is probably best to take on more players, there are still going to be practical issues. Combat will take longer, crowding on the frontlines, and even the difficulty of the AP will be greatly reduced with 8 PC's. Even with XP spread across more players underleveling us, the action economy would still be really significant.
REDIT: Do we have to get half-orc characters? Might be worth asking if any of the other party want to come over here. I think we could do it, but there would definitely be growing pains as our crotchety dwarves begin the process of overcoming their prejudices towards half-orcs. To be clear, I am open to the RP potential, but the half-orc players would need to be briefed very clearly on what exactly they are stepping into and this party's history with half-orcs.
I’d even vote for stealing classic team’s dwarf character. ;)
Makes us 7. Makes their team 7. And we stay all dwarf.
I'm imagining a dwarf getting dwarfnapped in the middle of the night by the 6 of us. They would hear us from a mile away! XD
I feel the need to post, even if just to say i'm here.
Hi guys. How's it going? :)
Currently at National Guard training, sleeping in a tent and learning charts and darts artillery. :p
How’s everyone else?
I am writing a research paper about gender in sub-Saharan African Societies. My brain is fried at this point. Otherwise doing ok, just trying to power through end of semester crunch time!
How are you Torith?
P.S. If any of you happen to be experts, published, or know a good source for my topic, please share the wealth! :D I have plenty of sources, but speaking to someone "in the know" would help me straighten out my thoughts and make sure I don't sound like an idiot.
Experts in Sub-Saharan African Societies? I had... one class on such a thing, something like 8 years ago now. My most recent knowledge is all on Wakanda.
Yeah, I am both incredibly impressed and incredibly unhelpful in helping out on that :p
I'm more of a 'mind filled with random gaming knowledge' person myself so your paper sounds like a better use of brain power, even if it has temporarily fried your brain.
My time is nowhere near as constructive. I've been playing and running a whole bunch of pathfinder over the last few weeks. If everything goes as planned i should be GMing a game on sunday for my local PFS lodge that will earn me my 3rd GM star! :)
Congratulations! :D That's really exciting, I only have two stars, but I was really happy when I earned each of them. What are you running?
I've been running the Emerald Spire Superdungeon for an ongoing group once a month. We're about to do level 4.
I've always wanted to do the whole emerald spire with the same group of characters! Would be a fun pseudo-AP type game.
Giving everyone temporary HP is proving to be a lot of book keeping.
Could I add this archetype on?
https://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/hybrid-classes/skald/archetypes/paizo-skal d-archetypes/urban-skald-skald-archetype/
The only reason being that we won’t have to keep track of HP coming and then going.
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Well, you aren't going to be in many urban areas, but otherwise I have no problem with the archetype. I think the mocking stuff could get very interesting (and very in character) later on...
Wonderful. :)
Now *so* much less book keeping and everyone can cast spells with inspired rage.
+1 Buckler found! Anyone able to use it?
Also throwing this Feat out; https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/shield-mastery-feats/unhindering-shield-shie ld-mastery/
So even if nobody wants it now, it could be used at lvl6.
If someone has a use for the buckler then they should certainly use it. If not then Torith can carry it until someone else wants to use it as it wouldn't interrupt his ability to call on his powers.
Hello all: I'm heading out on vacation starting on Monday and will be gone for about 12 days. I'm unlikely to do any posting in that time.
DM: In case battle comes and you feel like DMPC'ing me, I'll post my usual combat actions hit with hammer, shoot with crossbox) in my statline for easy reference.
Thanks for the heads up and the assist!
You lot certainly can be efficient at times!" says Torith as he runs to catch up with the others, a little out of breath.
Official petition to alter the rules so that our frontliners have to confirm crits twice? ;)
Our luck has been crazy good with crits! Makes life as a backliner soooo much easier :)
I'm just waiting for one of us to start annoying Desna...
Also, I've actually been thinking of Shield Brace as a possible avenue, so wouldn't mind the buckler if no one objects. Start with a 'semi'- shield to get used to it.
I have found that I have to go to some national guard mandatory fun in June. From the 3rd to the 23rd I’ll have limited internet connectivity. While I’ll finally learn how to use an m249 light machine gun...it’ll limit my posting. My apologies in advance.
I don't think I authorized bringing an m249 into the game... oh, you mean in real life....
We will keep Kragmyr grudging along while your busy. Thanks for the heads up.
Good luck!
Am back now, will get back up to speed soon!
Welcome back!
Thanks for that link Gundar!
GM, did those rolls have penalties applied to the modifiers?
No, why?
The perception modifiers might be out of date then, mine was off by quite a bit. I was like "Ha! Must have rolled really poorly if I missed the surprise round!" and then when I checked I saw that mine wasn't my standard modifier.
Boy, those were way out of date. I don't think anyone has noticed for a few levels at least. I keep init and perception as copy/paste blocks because they get used so often. So if you change yours, you should point it out to make sure I keep my records up to date. Although, seeing the current list, I am not sure I will need to bother with perception roles often....
My initiative mod is +2 :) Thanks for going over those numbers GM!
Due to various personal issues i dropped off the internet for a few days. I don't really want to go into details but i want to post that i'm now working my way through ongoing games i'm GMing or playing in and getting them back on track.
Specific to this game - I've just caught up on the posts i've missed and posted Torith's surprise round action that i only just missed and was delayed on. I'm glad i wasn't holding things up more than that.
Thank you everyone for being patient.
Hope things are better, Torith! Welcome back.
Fuzzfoot, would trying to get off the boat and to the shore for melee involve any swim checks?